A snapshot of life in Forest Park during World War II is captured in the issue of the April 12, 1945 Review and Forest Parker. The lead photo is of “Forest Park’s first Honor Roll,” which had 1,500 names of men from Forest Park who were serving in World War II, with space for an additional hundred. The sign was made by Ed Lasch of Suburban Sign Service, and the materials were paid for by the Chamber of Commerce. 

In this edition of the paper, good news was reported by the family of Pfc. Harold Nordbrock (428 Thomas), who had been missing in action and was found safe in a German Prison camp. Additionally, Lt. Ralph P Grabow (622 Ferdinand) of the 7th Army was hit by shrapnel in Germany and was flown from France to a hospital in England to recover. Corp. Fred Gaden, (7718 Monroe) was in the southwest Pacific convalescing from a concussion in a battle on Iwo Jima. The Forest Park American Legion Post 414 received a captured German flag with a large Swastika in the center, by Sgt. Ray Liedeke who was on the Western Front. He proudly wrapped the captured flag in the December 7th copy of the Review and Forest Parker and sent it back home.

Letters from servicemen around the world were published, including C. Johnson S1-C in the East Indies, Sgt. Louis Cacagno in France, Pvt. Wm. Flight in Texas, and Cpl. W. Wilkes, somewhere in France. 

This six-page paper also had reports on local honors awarded in the past week to local men. This included a commendation for: 

A.Salzbrenner of the 14th Armored division, seventh armory in France.

Lt. Odell Simmons (600 Ferdinand) of the 8th Air Force 446th Bombardment Group, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the third Oak Leaf Cluster

Thomas McGrath, whose sister lived at 144 Marengo, received a Silver Star medal for “meritorious service as a commander of a rugged destroyer in the D-Day operations,” in spite of being struck by a torpedo and having the stern ripped away, the Nelson sank two U Boats to complete her mission. 

Sgt. Fredrick R. Prehn spent a 25-day furlough at his home, 932 Thomas, after completing his missions as a waist gunner for the 15th Air Force in Italy. 

Thomas Wiley of 1320 Elgin was commissioned to the U.S. Naval Reserve.

Cpl. Don Johnnson, 532 Desplaines, was stationed at MacDill Field near Tampa, Florida, training as a flight engineer 

Sgt. Robert Schulz, son of Frank Schulz, 1124 Lathrop, was assigned to the combat crew of an Italy-based 15th AAF B-17 Flying Fortress.

Jill Wagner